What is Speech Therapy?

Speech therapy, or training for people to speak more clearly, can be a game-changer for many people. Whether someone is dealing with a lifelong neurological disorder, recovering from head and neck cancer, or facing issues with their vocal cords or upper airways, speech therapy can make a big difference.
Adam Lloyd, SLP-D, deputy chief of speech pathology at the University of Miami Health System, says speech therapy isn’t just about improving speech; it also helps with eating and drinking difficulties.
How speech therapy helps
Dr. Lloyd says that speech therapy is often a crucial part of a patient’s overall care plan. For instance, it might be included in recovery plans for head and neck cancer treatments or as part of a broader approach for neurological disorders, alongside physical therapy, occupational therapy, and counseling.
Speech-language pathologists can address a wide range of issues, including:
- Articulation problems
- Language and understanding difficulties
- Literacy
- Social communication
- Voice disorders
- Fluency (stuttering)
- Cognitive communication
- Feeding and swallowing
Treatment overview
Speech-language pathologists tailor treatments to each patient’s specific diagnosis. For example, if someone has a voice disorder like muscle tension dysphonia, they might work on relaxing the muscles through breathing exercises, manual massage therapy, and voice exercises. Patients also get exercises to do at home to keep making progress between appointments.
The exercises can vary based on the patient’s needs and symptoms, and may include:
- Breathing exercises
- Physical swallowing exercises
- Voice exercises, like semi-occluded vocal tract exercises
- Perception exercises to differentiate sounds and syllables
- Repetitive exercises to produce certain sounds
- Relaxation and speech exercises to reduce stuttering and improve fluency
Many patients may benefit from speech therapy.
About 50% of patients see significant improvement with therapy alone, while others might need a combination of therapy and medical intervention. Some of the most impressive results have been with patients who had functional aphonia, regaining their normal voice without surgery.
Of course, achieving these positive outcomes requires dedication from the patient. With time, commitment, and practice, patients can see remarkable improvements in their voice, breathing, and swallowing.
Dr. Lloyd says that it is important to set realistic and achievable goals. Sometimes, patients can get back to where they were before, or at least regain significant function through speech therapy.
Wyatt Myers is a contributor for UHealth’s news service.
Tags: Adam Lloyd, Language delay, Language disorders, Speech therapist, Speech therapy techniques